ABOUT

Renton was born in London in 1972 into a family which saw history as its canvas. His great aunt was the Communist historian Dona Torr. His grandfather was the Australian shoe designer Kurt Geiger.

One uncle had been a professional clown and activist in the actors’ union Equity. Another was the Tory Chief Whip who toppled Thatcher.

Before becoming a barrister, he was an academic historian and sociologist, teaching at universities in England and South Africa. He was also a political activist, taking part in protests at Welling, Genoa and the million-strong demonstration against the Iraq War in 2003.

He represents workers in employment tribunals and tenants in housing claims in the County Court. His clients have included Dave Smith, chair of the Blacklist Support Group, and the Bank of Ideas, demonstrators who occupied a disused bank at the time of Occupy St Pauls.